Early Reactions: “I don’t quit.”
Here are some of the early reactions following President Obama's State of the Union Address last night:
From a Washington Post Editorial:
The Barack Obama who mounted the podium last night for his first State of the Union address is the same man who ascended to the presidency a year ago: even-tempered, intelligent, charismatic.
From the New York Times’ Peter Baker:
It was a confident performance, more defiant than contrite, more conversational than soaring… His main message: ‘I don’t quit.’
From Slate’s John Dickerson:
The speech had a feel of a relaunch. In tone and spirit, the president returned repeatedly to the themes he campaigned on—a call to end partisanship and special interest influence, and to create a government equal to the spirit of the American people.
From the Washington Post's EJ Dionne:
Barack Obama had once hoped to be a conciliatory president who understood his philosophical adversaries. He is still that man, and much of his speech described ideas, especially in education and energy, that could well win support across ideological lines.
But it was clear that the Obama who addressed the nation on Wednesday also understood that he confronts a Republican Party that sees unflinching opposition as blazing a path to victory. And he offered himself as a president ready to do battle. "We don't quit," he said. "I don't quit."
ABC News' Mark Zandi:
“Well, if you just take this package by itself, and you combine it with other things, unemployment insurance, perhaps help from the government, i think it can make about 1 million job differences by this time next year, so, a meaningful difference, and let me say, the -- the president is right, the stimulus package passed last year is a plus. The economy would be in a measurably worse place today without it.”
CBS Poll: Poll: 83% Approve of Obama's State of the Union Proposals
CBS News conducted an instant poll with Knowledge Networks immediately following President Obama's State of the Union address. Here are some of the highlights: 83% of speech watchers approve of the proposals the president made in his speech tonight. 17% Disapprove. 70% of speech watchers think Barack Obama shares the same priorities for the country as they do. 57% thought so before the speech. 59% of speech watchers think that Barack Obama has a clear plan for creating jobs. 40% thought so before the speech.